TOC Challenge.

[gazthomas]

Ah ok thanks, that saves a TOC (unless we're forced to go to Paris and back!)

Eurostar isn't a GB TOC as such

 

[PeterY]

I'm going to do (if all goes well) another ALR the first week in September. I must admit ShwervinMervin I've given some thought to your idea of every TOC but I've a week to do it. I'd be starting in Hemel Hempstead. My experience gained from my first ALR is, I would always buy 1st class, knowing that not all TOCs have 1st. So for me the challenge will be combining new lines with all the TOCs during the week. In theory I could do most London area ones in a couple of hours. C2C, South Eastern, Great Northern etc.

So far I'd like to do Newquay and Falmouth, Chester to Manchester, Stansted across to Cardiff, Tweedbank, and a few Welsh Valleys ,all new lines.

 

[ShwervinMervin]

Eurostar isn't a GB TOC as such

I'm saying both.

 

[ShwervinMervin]

Sounds interesting!

What about:

• Brighton - Ashford ITL (Southern)
  
• Ashford - Ebbsfleet (Eurostar)
• Ebbsfleet Ashford - St Pancras (SE)
• Kings Cross to Cambridge (GN)
• Cambridge to Ely (GA)
• Ely to Peterborough (EMT)
• Peterborough to Grantham (VTEC)
• Grantham to Doncaster (HT)
• Doncaster to York (GC)
• York to Darlington (TPE)
• Darlington to Edinburgh (XC)
• Edinburgh to Haymarket and back (SR)
• Edinburgh to Crewe (CS - overnight)
• Crewe to Liverpool South Parkway (LNWR)
• LSP to Hunts Cross (Merseyrail)
• Hunts Cross to Warrington Central (Northern)
• Warrington Bank Quay to Chester (ATW)
• Chester to Crewe (VTWC)
• Crewe to Smethwick Galton Bridge (whichever)
• SGB - The Hawthorns (Chiltern)
• The Hawthorns - Birmingham Moor Street (WMR)
• Birmingham New Street - Bristol Temple Meads (XC)
• BTM - Paddington (GWR)
• Paddington - Heathrow 2&3 (Heathrow Connect)
• Heathrow 2&3 - Paddington (Heathrow Express)
  
• [Note: Crossrail would speed this bit up]
  
• Paddington - Liverpool Street (Central Line)
• LS - Stratford (TFL)
• Stratford - West Ham (DLR/Jubilee)
• West Ham - Barking (C2C)
• Barking - Blackhorse Road (LO)
• Blackhorse Road - Tottenham Hale (Victoria Line)
• Tottenham Hale - Liverpool Street (Stanstead Exp)
• LS - Whitechapel (H&C Line)
• Whitechapel - Clapham Jct (LO)
• Clapham Jct - London Victoria (SWT)
• Victoria - Gatwick (Gat Ex)
• Gatwick - Brighton (TL)

I have no idea if this fits into 2 days or not - it might be better to move the East London adventures to day 1 to line up better. Either way, CS has to be done overnight and provides the connection one way up to Scot Rail.

I'm sure this can be impoved however!

PS: Isn't the Island line part of SWR now. That saves some time!

Here's my attempt, counting the WMT brands as separate:

• Brighton - London Victoria (GX)
• London Victoria - Clapham Junction (SN)
• Clapham Junction - Reading (SWR)
• Reading - Hayes and Harlington (GWR)
• Hayes and Harlington - Heathrow 2&3 (HC)
• Heathrow 2&3 - Paddington (HX)
• Marylebone - Leamington Spa (Chiltern)
• Leamington Spa - Coventry (WMT)
• Coventry - Stoke (XC)
• Stoke - Stockport (VTWC)
• Stockport - Crewe (ATW)
• Crewe - Liverpool Lime Street (LNWR)
• Liverpool Lime Street - Ormskirk via Liverpool Central (Merseyrail)
• Ormskirk - Preston (Northern)
• Preston - Glasgow Central (TPE)
• Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley (ScotRail)
• Edinburgh Waverley - Euston (CS)
• Kings Cross - York (Grand Central)
• York - Doncaster (VTEC)
• Doncaster - Kings Cross (HT)
• Kings Cross - Ely (GN)
• Ely - Norwich (EMT)
• Norwich - Stratford (GA)
• Stratford - Forest Gate (XR)
• Wanstead Park - Barking (LO)
• Barking - Fenchurch Street (c2c)
• Cannon Street - London Bridge (SE)
• London Bridge - Brighton (TL)

Somehow, I've avoided going on anyone TOC more than once apart from changing at Liverpool Central. Looks an interesting trip though!

These 2 are absolutely brilliant.
I'll probably do a bit of both in my plan

I will probably finish my itinerary by the end of this week, where I will post a photo on my instagram, and probably on here too.

I will record my Journey, for my YT 'Shwervin Mervin'


Cheers!

 

[PeterY]

Do the two overnight sleepers count as TOC's in their own right?

 

[BlueFox]

Do the two overnight sleepers count as TOC's in their own right?

The Scottish sleepers are run by a TOC that only runs the sleepers. The South West ones are part of GWR.

 

[ShwervinMervin]

The Scottish sleepers are run by a TOC that only runs the sleepers. The South West ones are part of GWR.

Brilliant.

 

[ShwervinMervin]

Edinburgh - Crewe isn’t possible on CS.
Am I right?

 

[A Challenge]

Yes, as only the Highlander calls at Crewe. The Highlander can be boarded at Inverkeithing if you wanted to though, at 00:15

 

[DanTrain]

Yes, as only the Highlander calls at Crewe. The Highlander can be boarded at Inverkeithing if you wanted to though, at 00:15

Didn't realise that. Would make sense to go up to Inverkeithing from Waverly (SR) and then board the sleeper I imagine.

 

[ShwervinMervin]

Yes, as only the Highlander calls at Crewe. The Highlander can be boarded at Inverkeithing if you wanted to though, at 00:15

Nope, I’m good

 

[ShwervinMervin]

Didn't realise that. Would make sense to go up to Inverkeithing from Waverly (SR) and then board the sleeper I imagine.

Seems a little long winded....

 

[Kite159]

Seems a little long winded....

But it be the only way to get the sleeper to Crewe, and at least Inverkeithing is better than Stirling (last pick up on the Inverness part)

 

[A Challenge]

Or Dalmuir (Fort William portion)